How lifestyle intervention for weight loss affects birth rates in women with a high BMI

Women who are overweight or obese pose an ongoing challenge for the fertility clinic. Many studies show that these patients are at increased risk of infertility and are less likely than normal-weight women to conceive after fertility treatment.

Women who are overweight or obese pose an ongoing challenge for the fertility clinic. Many studies show that these patients are at increased risk of infertility and are less likely than normal-weight women to conceive after fertility treatment. For example, ovulating sub-fertile women with a body mass index (BMI) of 29 kg/m2 or higher have been found in one study to have a 4% lower pregnancy rate per kg/m2 increase per year, compared to ovulatory subfertile women with a BMI below 29. Such studies suggest that weight reduction will increase the chances of conception, decrease pregnancy complications and improve perinatal outcome; however these results have not been confirmed in large randomised controlled trials.